Yoga & Pilates
What if I miss a session of my Pilates course?
You are very welcome to ‘make-up’
missed sessions. You can let
us know coming with a quick
email, or just come along
to any of the Pilates sessions, it doesn't need to be exactly the right
level, choose a time that suits you.
If you are doing an Intro Beginners
Pilates course, it is best to make-up after you have had at least 3 of
your regular sessions.
Make-ups need to be made before the
end of the term. You could
also attend Yoga as a make-up.
In some circumstances, if you cannot
complete your course for medical reasons or travel, we can ’Carry over’
your booking into the next term.
Can I practice Pilates or Yoga during Pregnancy?
Yoga
is most
beneficial during pregnancy, especially in the middle trimester when the
pregnancy is established, morning sickness has reduced and before the
size of the baby restricts some moves! You are most welcome. Often, it
is best to choose any easier level if you are experienced, and please
select from the beginner times if you are new to yoga, or are new to our
sessions.
Our Mat group
Pilates sessions are not suitable during
any stage of pregnancy. While there is some pre-natal Pilates promoted
in the general community, such sessions are very different from a
general session, often offering stretching and restorative exercises in
individual or very small groups.
Pilates involves intense abdominal
work aimed at contracting the ribs towards the hips and reducing the
belly area, all of which are most unsuitable during pregnancy.
Similarly, the exercises done lying on the front, twisting and strength
work are all unsuitable.
Intense abdominal work is
inappropriate during pregnancy. If you become pregnant during a
Pilates
course, please let us know and your remaining course will be refunded
or, if you wish, transferred into yoga sessions.
How are Pilates
& Yoga Different?
Both Yoga & Pilates are ’body—mind’
pursuits, they train, develop and challenge body and mind with the aim
to restore harmony between body and mind.
Yoga
is an art and science originating in
the Yoga Sutras written about 2000 years ago. The word ‘Yoga’ means
‘Union’ ~ between body and mind, between the individual and their world.
As taught in western Yoga schools
today, Yoga is breathing and postures (‘Hatha Yoga’), where the focus is
more physical, but the spiritual roots remain.
Pilates
is a much more recent invention,
developed by Joseph H Pilates in the 1930's and 40's and taught by him
in his New York Studio up the late 1960's. Many of JH Pilates’ students
were dancers needing rehabilitation from their injuries.
Since the 1990’s, Pilates has been embraced by the fitness
industry and has moved from individual teaching to group sessions and
Pilates principles are widely incorporated into physical training.
Each movement in Pilates evolves
from the abdominal core, recruiting the deep torso muscles, in turn
strengthening and toning them. The result is support for the lower
back, flexibility of the spine and tone of the torso.
Yoga
Pilates
Postures are held for a short time
Repeated flowing movements
Sitting, standing, lying and inverted postures
Mainly lying down exercises
Focus on entire body, from toes to finger tips, alignment
and balance
Centered on abdominal core and spine.
Flowing breath, in and out through the nose
Emphasis on coordinating separate parts of the
exercise with in and out breath.
Inhalation through the nose, exhalation through
the mouth.
Beneficial during pregnancy, especially in middle
trimester when pregnancy is well established but not yet
too cumbersome.
Not recommended for complications in past pregnancies.
Modified to be more gentle in weeks 10 -13.
The main movements of pilates (contracting core muscles)
are counter-intuitive to pregnancy.
These group pilates sessions are unsuitable throughout
pregnancy.
We recommend yoga as an alternative.
Suitable for all levels of fitness, age groups and
physiques.
Suitable for all level of fitness and age groups, and
often used as a return to physical activity after a long
break, however some exercises are not easy for very
overweight physiques.
Group Pilates not suitable for acute conditions
of the spine or joints.
Deep relaxation essential conclusion to the session
Brief resting positions.
Shoulders, hips and thighs.
Yoga
Pilates
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Genius Wellbeing ~ Ph 03 9444 0700 ~ Jan 2012